My Bible study partner and I are studying our way through Romans. Today’s lesson in Chapter 10 is a continuation of what Paul has consistently said throughout the book of Romans, namely salvation only comes through the shed blood of Christ. He wrote:
“Today Paul continues in his letters to the Romans and he explains further how to live by faith instead of by works – He prays that they will be saved – The Jews believed that if they followed the laws that they had established , customs and traditions, that they would be acceptable in Gods sight – This is all too common among friends of mine who say, well I go to church! Or I’m a good person and help little old ladies across the street or give money . . . etc. etc. – These people are often spiritually blind and sometimes people who have never been in a church are the most responsive to Gods message – “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It’s not that complicated . . . everyone who calls on him will be saved!”
My friend and brother in Christ nailed it. People get so confused about something so simple. It isn’t about how many sins we have committed, nor how bad they were. It isn’t about giving money, walking some poor handicapped soul across the street, going to church, serving in a soup line, or anything besides our sins being forgiven and our sin debt being paid by Jesus Christ.
I’m not trying to diminish good works or living righteously mind you, those should be present in every Christian’s life, and the Bible tells us that we all will be known by the “fruit” we produce. After we have decided to follow Christ, evangelism, helping others, having an active prayer life, leading a righteous life, attending church (and tithing), and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves, etc. should all come naturally.
I strongly recommend that you study the book of Romans. Paul makes it clear that we all fall short when it comes to sin, and our sins require our spiritual death unless pardoned by Jesus Christ. We must confess our sins, repent, (or turn from them), and recognize Jesus Christ for who He really is, the Son of God who took our sins upon Himself and received punishment for all the sins of the world in order that we can be reunited with Him forever. We must declare with our mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Without that, we must face the wrath of God for our sins alone which at a minimum means we will be subjected to punishment which includes forever being separated from God and all that is good.
What happens if we continue to sin? Well, that is a subject for a future Words for the Day. But when we confess Jesus is LORD and He becomes our Savior, NOTHING can ever separate us from Him . . . Once we invite Christ into our lives and accept him as our Savior, our name is written in his book of life. Our names cannot be blotted out. John makes this clear in Revelation 3:5 where he writes “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.”
If you sin ask for forgiveness, do the best you know how to refrain from committing it again, but don’t worry about losing salvation. Sin has its consequences and to be sure those who have called upon the name of the Lord as their Savior will endure them too. As Christians we will not be perfect until we are safely in heaven. To be a Christian is not about being perfect but simply forgiven by our loving God.
Romans 8:38
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”